Labor

Front

By WILLIAM KASHTAN

The following column, written the week before the Canadian Labor Con- gress convention opened, discusses the major problems facing the labor movement today. Next week the PT will carry fuller reports on the conven-

tion.

The threat of a general strike in Quebec, backed by the united action of the Quebec Federation of Labor and the Confederation of National Trade Unions, so as to compel changes in the proposed Labor Code, con- stitutes somewhat of a symbolic background for the CLC Con- vention which meets Montreal April 20 to April 24.

If it shows anything, it shows that conditions are ripening for much more militant forms of struggles and for united action of the trade union move ment around more far - reaching programs,

Montreal is a good choice for the convention this year, par- ticularly because it will afford an opportunity for delegates from the rest of the country to face up to and get at the problem of what is called the crisis of

confederation. * * *

So far it is capitalist spokes- men in the main who have been calling the shots with regard to the solution of this crisis. But their solutions, rather than re- solving the crisis, may only ag- gravate it. What is sorely miss- ing is the united voice of the or- ganized labor movement, speak- ing up firmly and clearly in sup- port of the rights of our two na- tions within a united, federated Canada.

Insofar as the convention does this, it will also help to cement the unity of the French -and English-speaking Canadian working class and at the same time advance the move- ment for all-in trade union unity against monopoJy and its anti- social policies. :

Unity, unity and yet again unity — this ought to permeate the entire work of the conven- tion in face of the many chal- lenges confronting the working class today.

What are the nature of some of these challenges?

* * *

Challenge number one—What type of program ought labor to advance to meet the impact of. automation and the scienti- fic revolution?

How can automation be made to serve the interests of soci- ety and of the working class rather than displace them from production?

What democratic public con-

trols are needed andhowcanthey .

be achieved? Can these objectives only be won through collective bar-

gaining. or is there need, along- side of collective bargaining. for united political action on a scale and scope not yet reached by labor’

Not least, can the labor move- ment afford the ‘*luxury™ of di- visions and disunity pre- cisely now when all its great strength is needed to cope with this massive problem?

* * *

Challenge number two — what can be done now to compel gov- ernment action on a federal and provincial scale to win medicare, a Canada Pension Plan, retrain- ing and re-employment for those displaced by technology, and ach- ieve employment for a growing labor force, including education and job opportunities for youth?

Isn’t the time long overdue for politics of national econo- mic development which would ex- pand the enonomy, and utilize the great natural resources of our country in the interests of the- Canadian people, tocurb the pow- er of U.S. control through nation- alization and other appropriate measures?

* * * ss

Challenge number three —What can be done to make organized labor a decisive factor in the fight for peace and disarmament, compel the. removal of nuclear bases on Canadian soil, extend trade with all countries on a mutually satisfactory basis, re- duce armaments in Canada and use such monies for socially use- ful purposes?

* * *

Challenge number four — What can be done to carry out a really effective, coordinated and united campaign to extend the base of the trade union move- ment through the organization of the unorganized, blue and white collar alike? ~*

What is needed to make the CLC not only a legislative, but an organizational centre as well, able to conduct such campaigns in areas not covered by the industrial unions?

* * *

Challenge number five—What is needed to advance the auton- omy and sovereignty of trade union movement and defeat those who give lip service to making the CLC ‘*master in its own house’’ while inpractice stabbing it in the back?

Isn't it high time to eliminate the cold war from the thinking and action of the trade union movement, to re-establish all-in

- unity so that organized labor can

get on with the job it now faces?

These questions will, in one way or another, be at the centre of attention of the CLC con- vention.

MAY DAY RALLY

Friday, May 1 — 8 p.m. Pender Auditorium, 339 W. Pender St. Hear Barry Mather, NDP MP (New Westminster); Jean Pare, Vice-President UE Union; other labor spokesmen, speak on: ‘““Remove Nuclear Warheads from Canadian Soil”

‘A New Pact of Confederation” 7 ’More Pay and a Shorter Work Week”’

Auspices: Vancouver Trade Union May Day Commitiee

‘NEED PROCESSING INDUSTRIES’

New forest merger loom Communists hit giveaway

‘Stop the giveaway of B.C.’s forests,’ ‘*‘Save thousands of jobs in our forest industry,” is the theme of a two-page leaflet be- ine widely distributed this week by the B.C. Communist Party, calling “on the public to. block the granting of forest licences by the Socred government.

The leaflet has a large map which shows the many millions of acres of public forests over which big companies, largely U.S., are seeking exclusive con- trol through forest licences.

“It’s vital we act now to stop this giveaway,’’ says the leaflet, which urges. letters and wires to Premier Bennett opposing granting of the licences. It urges that ‘¢a new Royal Commissionon Forestry be appointed immedi- ately, and that pending the find- ings of that inquiry no — fur- ther licences be granted.”

The Communist Party leaflet charges that big U.S. monopol- ies are seeking the licences be- cause they want to take out of B.C. the raw. materials in raw or semi-processed form — as lumber or pulp. ‘‘They ask that we turn over control of the for- ests to them for the kind of in- dustries which would provide the LEAST number of jobs and pay- rolls . and MOST. profit for them,’’ says the leaflet.

Fa “*

Williams in the Detroit Free Press “Back at the start... again!”

The leaflet points out, quoting from the late Chief Justice Gor- ~ don Sloan, that processing of our forests would provide thousands of new jobs, and that in some instances processing couldpro-

vide aS many as 12 times the number of jobs over log pro- duction.

Need manufacture

The Communist Party urges that the forests be retained under public control and that processing industries be developed to reap the full benefits for the people from our forest lands. :

At the same time as the leaf- let was being distributed, the chairman of the huge U.S. Mead Corporation of Dayton, Ohio, Ho- ward Whitaker visited Vancouver and revealed that his company is after big stakes with its appli- cation for forest licences inB.C.

Mead Corporation is the sixth largest U.S. forest company in terms of net sales and the fourth largest in terms of paper and paper board products. Mead’s is the major shareholder in B.C. Forest Products and Alexandra Forest Industries Ltd., which re- cently merged to apply for athree and a half million acre licence north of Prince George.

Monopoly merger Whitaker revealed that Mead Corporation is ‘‘talking’’ to Northwood Mills. Ltd. about a merger of groups to exploit B.C. forests. Northwood also re- cently applied for a huge forest

licence in B.C., and is a sub- sidiary of Noranda Mining and

Smelting Co., which is invading °

the forest industry in B,C.

In an interview with the Van- couver Province’s economic _writer Pat Carney, Whitaker ad- mitted that the huge mills his company will build in northern B.C. will mainly produce bleach- ed kraft pulp for the U.S. He said it will be used in the U.S. for making paper and paperboard products. :

Asked why Mead seem interested in B.C. Whitake ‘We think you've got timber, the best resoure the world.” :

The statement by. confirms the charge mad Communist Party leaflet a ‘ U.S. monopolies are seckinas est licences largely to expo! trees in raw or semi-proce form for manufacture in te Many of the finished Pf? will be sold back to Briti umbians at high prices.

white e in

yu

U.S. control

Province writer Pat ©* also expressed concern ove problem in her column day, April 10. She says:

‘‘Our ability to prov jobs depends on our suc® producing more manufac goods for sale in world me& since converting operatio” to use more workers mary manufacturing.”’

ide

She then adds: ‘‘In indus dominated by huge forest 0 anies like Mead, there !® incentive to press for & access to markets for more manufactured goods. -° | opment of a converting ind in B.C. to compete im ~ markets is hardly in tne @ pany’s (Mead’s) interest. |

This is precisely thé made in the Communist leaflet, and is the reaso? urges that the forest lice should not be granted to the monopolies who want to E the public forests only {07 materials.

Another revealing aspect Whitaker’s visit to B.C. prospect that a merger be i his group and Northwoo create a vast new forest coin in B.C.’s forest industry would be against the pest ests of labor and the police. ests of labor and the iam

Peace lobby tells Pearson: cancel N-arms agreement

James G. Endicott, chairman of the Canadian Peace Congress, led-a group of 20 delegates to Ottawa recently to lobby MPs and present a bilingual brief to the government.

The brief, titled ‘‘Canada’s Role in the World of 1964’’, presented to a federal cabinet minister and also to an NDP caucus, urges action on these seven points:

1, Nuclear arms: cancel the agreement to station nuclear arms on Canadian territory, de- clare Canada a nuclear-free zone and oppose the spread of nuclear weapons, thus making a much needed contribution to dis- armament and world peace,

2. Disarmament: in accord- ance with the resolution of the ‘United Nations Organization and the declared intentions of the United States of America and the Soviet Union to insti- tute general disarmament, Can- ada should now take a lead and begin the actual reduction of armed forces.

3. Support U.N.: Canada should increase her emphasis’ on a strong United “Nations and contribute directly from _ the savings on arms_ reduction to the efforts of the U.N. at media- tion, negotiation and prevention of hostilities by police forces

under the control of the U,N.

4, Relations with China; Can- ada should vote now for giving China’s seat in the U.N. to the People’s Republic of China, the actual government of China, and should establish full dip- lomatic relations with the gov- ernment.

5. Vietnam War: It is urgent that Canada take steps to recall the Geneva Conference and get this dangerous war stopped.

6. Universal trade: Canada

DR. JAMES G. ENDICOTT, who re- cently headed a group of 20 dele- gates to Ottawa.

t

April 24, 1964—PACIFIC TRIBUNE

should promote the reauct!

international tensions DY © oping trade and normal relat with all countries and shou licly oppose policies of arme tervention in the internal of other states.

7, Under-developed coum Canada should set an ©% of quickly helping newly pendent countries to cope problems of poverty and ™ development, not by dem profitable investment for dian capital but by 1loné arrangements for trade kind which enables thos tries to acquire, own for the economic and equipment which they need.

Members of the delegati” 5 ported a_ general sym for the brief, especially yo MP's representing French ada.

In Ottawa, they p U.S. embassy and~handé leaflets.

The Canadian Peace CoM has 15 peace committees ating in Vancouver, i Calgary, Regina, game" Pelly, Kamsack, Winnipes* Lakehead, Toronto, Lond tawa and Montreal. :

Lod Gardner, chairma? © B.C. Peace Council, repr the council at the meeting:

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